The purpose of the RC environmental safety observatory forming an integrated system of education and research in the field of environmental security and sustainable development of the regions. RC equipment allows for pollution studies: the atmosphere, natural and man-made waste water, soil, to assess toxicological risk of natural and man-made water using biological methods – optical bioelectronic systems to investigate the biological fluid, extracts of animal and plant tissues, as well as certain types of biomolecules used for environmental testing and assessment of pollution. Specialized software allows you to solve problems related to the evaluation of environmental damage, transport of pollutants, modeling of pollution of the environment processes. Particularly relevant research in the field of environmental safety studies to ensure early diagnosis and prompt warning of environmental threats received in recent years, when the world is marked rise in the number of natural and man-made disasters, extreme weather events, and caused casualties, material losses and huge environmental damage.
Resource Center for Ecological Safety Observatory includes:
I. Lidar complex. It consists of a mobile lidar complex on the basis of the vehicle and stationary lidar complex, located in the astronomical tower of the Faculty of Geography and Geoecology. This module allows you to get the results of lidar sensing that appear on the screen in the form of aerosols, the size of their particles, the content of variable gas, the vertical profile of wind speed and direction, which allows to determine the direction and speed of the spread of pollutants. Thus lidar sensing provides a fairly complete information on environmental pollution in the atmosphere. Complex equipment allows to carry out studies to assess the transboundary transport of pollutants, assessment of shipping's contribution to air pollution, the study of diurnal and seasonal variations hats contamination of metropolitan areas, etc. The permanent members EARLINET networks – European Aerosol Research Lidar Network and network ACTRiS – Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research InfraStructure network noted the high possibility of the lidar equipment RC SPbGU environmental safety observatory that allowed the St. Petersburg State University to become a full member of EARLINET ACTRIS and networks, the first station on the territory of Russia.
Schemes of algorithms of an aerosol and wind lidars
II. Bioelectronic complex. The use of complex equipment provides basic research in the field of environmental physiology, ecotoxicology, benthic invertebrates, tasks related to the assessment of the biological effects of anthropogenic impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The use of biological methods allows for an objective assessment of the level of toxicological danger of natural and biologically treated wastewater in real time.
Bioelectronic complex is equipped with marine and freshwater aquariums for extended periods of aquatic organisms. The complex has a polar aquarium (water temperature from +4°C to +12°C); moderate aquarium (water temperature +16°C to +21°C); tropical aquarium (water temperature between +22°C and +28°C).
Photos of bioelectronic complex
III. Chemical-analytical complex. Complex equipment chemical analytical complex provides research with a view to developing new approaches to assess the status and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, allows for the identification of small molecules of different nature, trace elements and "heavy metal", to carry out research of biological components and morphological structures, including biological contamination . The equipment allows for training and research in the study of migration in the environment of non-specific contaminants, particularly transformation products in sediments, soils, chemicals harmful algal blooms, etc.
IV. Biorefineries. biochemical unit equipment is designed for the study of biological fluids, extracts of animal and plant tissues, as well as certain types of biomolecules used for environmental testing and assessment of pollution. Complex equipment ensures the implementation of photometric, spectrophotometric, fluorimetric, titration, electrophoretic and other studies in the analysis of proteins, nucleic acids, amino acids and oligonucleotides, metabolites, enzyme activity, the study of the diversity of multiple forms of biomolecules, their change under the influence of toxic factors.
V. Environmental and Mathematics Complex. Specialized software eco-mathematical complex allows to solve various problems related to the analysis and processing of information lidar network, mathematical modeling of pollutant migration process substances and situational simulation environment pollution processes. The complex is equipped with modern facilities with the installation of modern interactive whiteboards, presentation equipment, high-resolution video wall.
